Bordeaux and the Wine Country Travel Guide | Fodor's Travel Bordeaux and the Wine Country Travel Guide Nearby Airports: BOD Plan Your Bordeaux and the Wine Country Vacation When travelers arrive here, Bordeaux's countryside enchants them without their quite knowing why: what the French call la douceur de vivre (the sweetness of living) may have something to do with it. To the east, extending their lush green rows to the rising sun, the renowned vineyards of the Route de Médoc entice visitors to discover magical medieval wine towns like St-Émilion. To the north, the Atlantic coast offers elite enclaves with white-sand beaches. In between is the metropolis of Bordeaux, replete with 18th-century landmarks and 20-year-old college students. Some complain that Bordeaux is like Paris without the good stuff, but if you're a wine lover it's still the doorway to paradise. And things are on the move in Bordeaux these days; it's consistently voted one of the top three French cities for young people to live in. From the grandest premiers grands crus—the Lafite-Rothschilds, the Margaux—to the modest supérieur in your picnic basket, Bordeaux wines command respect around the world.

So much so that oenophiles by the thousands come here to pay homage: to gaze at the noble symmetries of estate châteaux, whose rows of green-and-black vineyards radiate in every direction; to lower a nose deep into a well-swirled glass, inhaling the heady vapors of oak and almond and leather; and, finally, to reverently pack a few bloodline labels into a trunk or a suitcase for home. The history, economy, and culture of Bordeaux have always been linked to the production and marketing of wine. The birth of the first Bordeaux winery is said to have occurred between AD 37 and 68, when the Romans called this land Burdigala. By the Middle Ages a steady flow of Bordeaux wines was headed to England, where it's still dubbed "claret," after clairet, a light red version from earlier days. During these centuries the region was also put on the tourist radar because it had become a major stopping-off point on the fabled Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage road. With all these allurements, it's no wonder the English fought for it so determinedly throughout the Hundred Years' War.

This coveted corner of France became home to Eleanor of Aquitaine, and when she left her first husband, France's Louis VII, to marry Henry II of Normandy (later king of England), both she and the land came under English rule. Henry Plantagenet was, after all, a great-grandson of William the Conqueror, and the Franco-English ambiguity of the age exploded in a war that defined much of modern France and changed its face forever. Southwestern France was the stage upon which much of the war was conducted—hence the region's many castles and no end of sturdy churches dedicated to the noble families' cause. What they sought, the world still seeks. The wines of Bordeaux set the standard against which other wines are measured, and to truly savor them you should drink them on-site—from the mouthful of golden Graves that eases the oysters down to the syrupy sip of Sauternes that civilizes the smooth gaminess of the foie gras to the last glass of Médoc paired with the salt-marsh lamb that leads to pulling the cork on a Pauillac—because there is the cheese tray yet to come.

With a smorgasbord of 57 wine appellations to choose from, the revitalized city of Bordeaux, and the wine country that surrounds it with a veritable army of varietals, the entire region is intoxicating. Along with Burgundy and Champagne, Bordeaux is one of the great wine regions of France. As the capital of the Gironde département and of the historic province of Aquitaine, the city of Bordeaux is both the commercial and cultural center of southwest France. It is smack-dab in the middle of one of the finest wine-growing areas in the world. With a smorgasbord of 57 wine appellations to choose from, the entire region is intoxicating. View All (1) Top Reasons To Go La Route de Médoc With eight appellations (districts) in this small area alone, and names like Rothschild, Latour, and Margaux on its bottles, the route will fulfill your grape expectations. Bordeaux 18th-century wine merchants endowed this city with an almost regal elegance—for proof, see their gracious mansions and the city's sublime squares.

The Rothschild legacy Although the family's Château Lafite is often locked, oenophiles will be welcomed with open arms at Château Mouton-Rothschild's visitor center and museum. St-Émilion With its 13th-century ramparts, cobblestone streets, and rock-face hermitage, this hilltop town presides over one of the region's richest wine districts. Bordeaux bacchanal Wine-themed festivals—most notably the Fête du Vin extravaganza, held in Bordeaux's biggest placeat the end of June—keep corks popping. When To Go When to Go Southwestern France can have bad storms even during the summer because of the nearby Atlantic. Happily, inclement weather doesn't hang around... Check historic weather for your trip dates: Travel Tips Grands Crus Classés de Graves Wine Tour and Lunch from Bordeaux - Bordeaux | Viator Grands Crus Classés de Graves Wine Tour and Lunch from Bordeaux From USD $ 122.07 View price calendar We're sorry, we cannot confirm pricing due to the following: We're sorry, this tour or activity is not available at this time. Please try selecting another date and/or a different number of travelers.

An error has occurred We're sorry! We've encountered a temporary glitch and cannot process your request. Our team is investigating the problem. In the meantime try pressing the back button, refreshing the page or returning to . Adult Important Info Pleasure your palate with the rich flavor and smooth taste of wine grown exclusively in the Graves region on a 6-hour tour from Bordeaux. With a connoisseur guide, visit two of the area’s most impressive chateaux and uncover the secrets behind ancient winemaking processes. Gaze at picturesque sprawls of vineyards and descend into the cellars of established wineries to taste refined samples of wine produced on the properties. Learn which wines compliment which foods and educate your palate in the complex flavors present in each sample.

Highlights 6-hour wine tour to vineyards and wineries in the Graves sub-region of Bordeaux Visit two châteaux with a guide, and see the winemaking process up close Explore the vineyards and see the grapes growing on the vine Taste wine at each winery and appreciate the subtle yet complex flavors Enjoy lunch in a château, and learn how to pair wine with food Recent Photos of This Tour Grands Crus Classés de Graves Wine Tour and Lunch from Bordeaux Bordeaux Wine Tasting What You Can Expect Sample wine in the Graves region! Greet your guide at a central Bordeaux location and climb aboard your comfortable, air-conditioned coach for the scenic journey into the heart of the Graves winemaking region. Admire the picturesque countryside and listen as your guide offers insightful commentary on the historical and geological heritage of the region; hear of the prestigious awards won by wines produced in the Bordeaux region and then arrive at an esteemed wine chateau in Graves. Embark on a guided tour of the winery and discover the secrets behind complex manufacturing processes before sampling some delicate wines during a tasting session. The tasting is accompanied by cheese or chocolate.

Continue to the second stop on your tour and marvel at the spectacular scenery before taking a seat to enjoy a fulfilling and flavorsome lunch. Sated by delicious French dishes, experience another tasting session and learn how to pair wines and food according to their ingredients and subtle flavors. After your enriching experience, return to your vehicle and relax during the journey back to central Bordeaux, where the tour concludes. Please see the Itinerary section below for the list of chateaux visited and a sample lunch menu. Itinerary Chris C September 2015 We highly recommend this tour. The countryside and chateaux we drove by were amazing. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Most of the fellow tourists were either French or French Canadians and they were happy to listen to the tour guide in French. We ended up being the only 2 English speaking tourists but the tour guide made sure he translated everything for us. The two wineries chateaux we visited for tasting were very beautiful and the wine offered for tasting was of high quality as well as the cheeses that were supplied. The second was built in the 12th century and was very impressive. We actually had the included lunch there.

The lunch was an impressive 5 course meal of the highest quality worth every cent. It included Oysters and local cuisine and of course very impressive wines. The red we had was a 2001 vintage. Both wineries also had their own very knowledgeable and articulate people present in detail their winemaking facilities, buildings and processes. Very impressive Robert M USA March 2010 This was a great day tour through the Graves region. Our tour guide was extremely friendly and fun, and the meal and wine tasting we had at the second chateau was to die for! David M June 2015 Very well organised. Good value for money. The lunch alone would probably normally cost more than the tour! The guides were all very approachable and spoke perfect English. Highly recommended. Peggy H December 2013 We visited two wineries and had very informative tours led by guides who were very well versed and knowledgeable of the winery. Both French and English were presented. Lunch at the second winery was a 5 star experience in itself. Here we were able to sit with the winemaker and learn even more while enjoying a wonderful afternoon with regional specialties and delightful wines at an elegant table.

The Montequieu's Chateau tour felt long. It was at the end of the day and perhaps after such a long lunch and so much information I wasn't ready to be standing around. The Chateau was beautiful and I think I would have enjoyed this part more if I had understood who this family was to Bourdeaux before I left on the tour. Shannon S October 2012 Excellent days outing and the lunch and wines were the best I had whilst in France. The only downside is the long wait while the guide explains everything in French before repeating it all in English. They seem to have so much more to say in French so we did have to wait quite a while and then ony got a short spiel in English Stephen V Switzerland March 2010 The wine tour is a good day tour for wine lovers. Packed with information about the wine growers, the "soil terroir" and things about grape growing. The tour was a bit short, though. Chris September 2011 The stops on the tour were terrific. The tour guide was very partial to the french speakers on the tour and did not translate many group discussions into English.

Bordeaux Wine - Beginner's Guide Bordeaux Wine A Beginners Guide to the Basics of Bordeaux Wine Bordeaux's Left Bank - Medoc. CIVB / Philippe Roy By Stacy Slinkard Updated February 06, 2016. Bordeaux...just the name conjures up all sorts of extraordinary wine expectations. As the fourth largest French city, the largest controlled wine growing region (AOC) in France, home to over 10,000 producers and the artisan of close to 70 million cases of wine per vintage, Bordeaux is the modern-day red wine Mecca, beckoning pilgrims near and far to scout for, speculate on and ultimately imbibe in the crown jewel, Bordeaux's exalted red wines. Not to say that Bordeaux doesn’t enjoy a favored following on the white wine or sweet wine fronts, merely that Bordeaux has been built on a foundation of red wine for hundreds of years, forged in large part by the historical and somewhat symbiotic relationship with the British over the highly coveted claret.

This famous winemaking region’s maritime climate, celebrated parcels of land, distinguished collection of grape varieties, well-honed traditions and complicated classification systems all come together in a tethered trellising system to form the winemaking wonder that is Bordeaux. continue reading below our video How to Juice Citrus A land based on “banks” – left bank or right bank, formal family roots and home to a slew of newcomers, layered with rules yet capable of cultivating wines that don’t all fall in regulatory line, crafting wine for futures yet gracing the table with everyday wine, every day, and built on a reputation of high-end wine, but presenting over 80% of its juice to the world in the “affordable” wine category at the $8-30 price point, Bordeaux is full of contrasts and more than capable of maintaining multiple wine expectations very well. Bordeaux – Climate and the Lay of the Land Located in the southwest corner of France, just miles from the Atlantic, Bordeaux benefits considerably from the coastal maritime influence, and typically enjoys wet springs, fairly gentle summers and mild winters.

The Gulf Stream exerts a warming influence on the region, yet summer weather can be fickle and inconsistent, making for interesting issues when it comes to getting grapes to fully ripen. Bordeaux: Good Vintages vs. Great Vintages Bordeaux’s climate is a critical player in vintage quality year in and year out. With great vintages built on the backs of well-ripened grapes and intended to age for the long haul and good vintages, maintaining the silver lining of being ready to drink earlier and selling at more affordable prices. The best vintages are always warm ones, Bordeaux can be a cool climate for red grapes, which need plenty of sun to reach full maturity, with optimum levels of sugar and tannin. Mature grapes create great wines. With good vintages , the wines come across fairly fresh, with less complexity and overall intensity. These wines may be ready to drink upon release and require a lot less age to enjoy fully, though if you do want to hold a good vintage 3-5 years will often suffice. Vintages from recent years that fall into the “good category” include 2006, 2007 and 2008.

Great vintages are built to cellar. They have a density, intensity and overall complexity that will only get more interesting with age. Recent Bordeaux vintages that fall into the “great category” include 2005, 2009 and 2010. Battle of the Banks – Bordeaux's Left Bank vs. Right Bank Three rivers do their best to define Bordeaux, with the major river, Gironde (truly classified as an estuary), effectively dividing the region into two primary sections – known worldwide simply as the left bank and the right bank. The flat, lower-lying land south of the Gironde is designated as the left bank and includes the regions of the Medoc and Graves . The gently sloping land on the north side of the Gironde is considered the right bank. The Gironde maintains two tributaries, the Garonne and Dordogne, with the Dordogne River serving to extend the right bank southeast along the most notable districts of Pomerol and St. Emilion . While, the Garonne continues its course south of the charming city of Bordeaux and slices through the land around the key districts of Graves, Pessac-Leognan and Sauternes .

In general, gravel dominates the soil of the left bank, which holds the sun’s heat well, lending itself to nurturing the thermophilic properties of Cabernet Sauvignon grapes best. The soil of Bordeaux’s right bank steers towards limestone and clay, functioning like a sponge to hold water, making it the ideal soil to grow the softer side of early-ripening Merlot . While the wines of the right bank tend to lean more heavily on Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon typically anchors the blends of the left bank, these are not hard and fast rules, with both varietals enjoying opportunities for growth on the opposite bank, depending on the vineyard’s subsoil, orientation and general terroir. The beauty of Bordeaux’s wines stem from the blend; it is in fact the blended synergy between the Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, well supported by Cabernet Franc , that brings the balance and elegance that have become synonymous with Bordeaux wine for centuries. The complementary growing patterns and palate personalities of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon offer built-in risk management. There is a safeguard in knowing that Merlot will ripen sooner than Cab.

If weather wipes out one grape, there’s still hope for the other, keeping all of the eggs out of a single basket at harvest time not only brings peace of mind but also allows two unique grapes to participate in a blended partnership to build a wine that is truly better together. Merlot brings plenty of red berry fruit, silky tannins, higher alcohol and lower acidity levels. While Cabernet Sauvignon is heavy on the black fruit, enjoys tighter tannins, significant structure and often lower levels of alcohol than Merlot. These complementary characteristics serve to support the balance of the blend, where one grape may lack the other fills in, resulting in a wine marriage that’s forged and sustained on varietal strengths while working in tandem to blend away weakness. The Grapes of Bordeaux Don’t expect to find the grapes on the labels of Bordeaux wines, you’ll find producer names, various villages, appellations and AOC designations, but not grapes. Why? It is where the grapes are grow - the terroir, the region, the village, the chateau itself that is most important to the Bordelais, not the individual grape varieties.

This can make it tough to navigate Bordeaux wines for New World consumers, who tend to be more grape-centric, born and raised on the label designates of “Merlot” or “Cabernet Sauvignon.” Remember the name of the game is BLEND in Bordeaux, it is the combination of the climate, the soil, the overall terroir and the dominate grapes that create a wine from Bordeaux, not a stand alone, all-star varietal. Red Wine Grapes of Bordeaux Bordeaux’s red wines are the region’s most vocal ambassadors, living a legend and leaving a legacy to all who imbibe. Crafted for perfect pairing with the region’s best lamb, beef, duck, wild game and local cheese, Bordeaux’s reds on all levels, live for food. Merlot is the primary red grape grown in Bordeaux weighing in at 60% of the vines planted, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon at 26 % and Cab Franc at 12%. Malbec and Petit Verdot may also be grown in Bordeaux, but they are grown in much smaller quantities and are used more for “seasoning” the red blend rather than building the blend itself. Merlot– The dominant red wine grape of Bordeaux is Merlot.

The highest concentrations of Merlot are grown on the right bank with limestone and clay being the most common soil substrates. This early ripening grape brings plenty to the blending table. Aromatic red fruit on the nose along with the supple fruit components of plum, cherry and chocolate and softer, silk-driven tannins bring a round character to the medium to full-bodied Merlot-based wines of Bordeaux’s right bank. The storied village of St. Emilion and the small district of Pomerol are the most famous districts for Merlot-based blends in Bordeaux; while, Fronsac continues to be one of the more affordable, offering high quality, well-priced right bank wines. Cabernet Sauvignon – 26% of Bordeaux’s red wine grapes are Cabernet Sauvignon. Cab dominates the left bank and is a late ripening grape, with intense tannins contributing structure, depth and long-term aging potential. Wines on the left bank are anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon and blended with varying degrees of Merlot and Cab Franc (and perhaps a scosh of Petit Verdot). These left bank lads tend to enjoy deep color, remarkable intensity, a full body, plenty of structure and enduring elegance along with darker fruit components.

Acclaimed names for some of Bordeaux’s best Cab-based blends come from the villages of St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien and Margaux. For more affordable left bank wines look for labels with the villages of Listrac, Moulis and Haut-Medoc. Cabernet Franc – Grows best on the right bank, but is also readily found on the left bank. This grape has long played a supporting role to Bordeaux’s Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Cab Franc lends spicy aromas with peppery accents and violet nuances, along with an understated elegance and fine tannins to the region's red wine blends. Malbec and Petit Verdot – In Bordeaux these grapes are grown in considerably smaller quantities, making up roughly 2% of the region's red grape population. However, Malbec and Petit Verdot both may be used in Bordeaux blends, with Malbec contributing a softness and Petit Verdot bringing some serious power and structure. White Wine Grapes of Bordeaux The white wine segment makes up about 11% of Bordeaux’s total wine market .

Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, the floral Muscadelle and Ugni Blanc are the only four grape varieties allowed to participate in the white wine AOC labeled blends of Bordeaux. For a lean, dry white wine brimming with acidity and food-friendly character, look for labels sporting the district of Entre-Deux-Mers. If more body, a rounder palate profile and an uptick in complexity defines your favorite white wines, then scout labels with district designates of Pessac-Leognan or Graves. Sauvignon Blanc – The white wine grape, Sauvignon Blanc, enjoys a good deal of diversity in Bordeaux. It can be made into a crisp, refreshing dry white wine in regions like Pessac-Leognan that pair well with oysters, shellfish and regional seafood or it can be beautifully blended with Semillon to make the sweet wines of Sauternes or Barsac, perfect pairing partners with the regional foie gras and Roquefort cheese. Sauvignon Blanc is not typically made to age on its own, but enjoyed in its youth will show fresh herb or “grassy” aromatics with bright acidity and well-balanced fruit.

Semillon – The Semillon grape is the most widely planted white grape in Bordeaux. It can be showcased on its own or in a blend with Sauvignon Blanc . This grape brings full flavor, creamy textures, intensity and body to a blend and constitutes the primary grape used for making Bordeaux’s sweet Sauternes , thanks to its exceptional susceptibility to noble rot, or Botrytis Cinerea . Unlike Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon can age well given the right vintage and is a rich, dry white wine in the hands of regions like Graves and Pessac-Leognan. Buying Bordeaux Buying wine from Bordeaux can be an intimidating experience for newbies. For starters, French wine labels in general steer clear of grapes and focus on geography. Labels highlight a wine's classification, the region that the grapes were grown, the AOC statement, and the estate - similar to New World wines, except that many are not familiar with Bordeaux's regions. Does the village lie on the left bank or right bank and why does it matter? Many would-be buyers of Bordeaux lack familiarity with Bordeaux's 10,000 estates and are oblivious to the region's the AOC Classification System .

To gain an initial grip on buying wines from Bordeaux, recall that the right bank is dominated, in general, by Merlot and the left bank is typically anchored by Cabernet Sauvignon. Learning several Bordeaux-based villages on each side of the river constitutes the next step for label recognition, whether you're buying the wines online or at the wine shop. Keep in mind, vintage variables play a critical factor in buying Bordeaux wines, check out the last several Bordeaux vintages to see where they lineup on the "good" vs. "great" scale, clearly good vintages are cheaper than great vintages. It's also no surprise, that big name chateaus will command significantly higher prices for their wines, but you can find solid red blends at incredible prices from Bordeaux's more modest chateaus. Learn more about top tips for buying wine from Bordeaux here. While the finest wines from Bordeaux, the ones that have both built and maintained the region’s prestigious reputation are quite expensive, often cashing in at $1000+ a bottle for First Growths, they do not represent the majority of wines from Bordeaux. In fact, the vast majority of Bordeaux’s wines are affordable, food-friendly wines.

Love it or hate it, drink it or not, Bordeaux has ruled the world of wine for well over three centuries and looks like it will continue to steer tradition, influence consumer trends and prep the future of vines for years to come. As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary travel for the purpose of reviewing the region. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy . Top 10 Wine Regions of The World | Wine Folly Articles , Beginner , Favorite , Wine Regions Each year we discover more countries producing wine. For instance, did you know there are vineyards in the Gobi Desert? It’s no doubt that up-and-coming wine regions are intriguing, but there are just 10 countries producing 80% of the wine on the planet. Let’s take a closer look at the top wine producing regions of the world. Top 10 Wine Regions of The World The top 3 major wine regions of the world are France, Italy and Spain. They produce almost half of all the wine produced in the world.

To help you wrap your brain around the sheer volume of wine they make: That’s a lot of wine… olympic pool in Bejing. The top 3 wine regions in the world make enough wine to fill 5,127 olympic-sized swimming pools. 1 France While France and Italy compete for the top wine production region of the world they are also reducing wine production every year. France has lowered production by 11% since 2007. Major Grapes Merlot, Grenache 3 Spain Spain is home to the largest vineyard acreage in the world. Despite this fact, Spain also has much lower wine yields than neighboring France and Italy resulting in less total wine. Major Grapes Tempranillo , Airén 5 Argentina Argentina continues to grow their wine production year after year resulting in the highest growth rate (8%) of the top 5 wine producers in the world. Argentina relies on wine exports. Major Grapes Malbec, Chardonnay 7 Germany German wine is known for their aromatic white wines. German wines are exported primarily to US and UK.

Major Grapes Riesling, Müller-Thurgau 9 Chile Chile is proud of the red wine variety Carmenere, known as the ‘lost varietal’ of Bordeaux. Still, export markets demand traditional varieties. Major Grapes Cabernet , Chardonnay 2 Italy Italy may be second to France, but there is a growing trend in both countries to remove vineyards. Italy has reduced their production by at least 7% since 2007. Major Grapes Sangiovese, Trebbiano 4 United States 90% of wine from the United States is from California. California is home to the world’s largest wine producer, Gallo, in Modesto, CA. Major Grapes Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay 6 Australia Australia relies primarily on the wine export market. Since the US dollar has weakened, Australia is expanding their wine marketing in Hong Kong and Asia.

Major Grapes Shiraz , Chardonnay 8 South Africa South Africa has long been known for its Chenin Blanc and produces the largest volume of Brandy in the world Major Grapes Chenin Blanc, Colombard 10 Portugal Portugal is known for Port wine , a high alcohol dessert wine from northern Portugal made by blending several grape varieties. Major Grapes Port grapes, Alvarinho How Knowing the World’s Top Wine Regions Helps You It’s useful to know what the most popular types of wine are in each of the top producing countries for two reasons: value and quality. Finding Value & Finding Quality Take a closer look at the regions above including Germany, Italy, Australia and Argentina. Each of these countries focus on a distinct wine variety. For instance, Spain produces the highest volume of Tempranillo in the world. This means that Spain produces both the most value Tempranillo as well as the best Tempranillo in the world. The next time you buy wine from these top regions, focus on what their exceptional wines are. You are more likely to find something you’ll enjoy. Find Out Who makes the best Pinot Noir in the world?

Sources Wine Institute Facts in pdf German Wine Statistics pdf from germanwineusa A Beginner's Guide to French Wine | Serious Eats A Beginner's Guide to French Wine 14 [Illustration: Robyn Lee] The idea of tackling France—the accents and the growing regions and the different vintages—can feel like a vast, unmanageable task for anyone who wants to start learning about wine. But even the most seasoned wine professionals sometimes mispronounce words, so you shouldn't worry. Today's guide will help you get a little more comfortable in the French section of your local wine shop. French wines can be confusing because they rarely put the name of the grape on the bottle. Instead they put a controlled place name, appearing on the label as the "Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée." You will often see this abbreviated as AOC or, to get in line with EU terminology, AOP. The rules for winemaking and grape growing in each appellation have grown out of each region's long history. Why put the place on the label instead of the name of the grape? Many people would say that it's because of the notion of terroir.

Essentially, terroir is the wine's expression of the place from where it came. When winemakers speak about terroir, they're talking about a variety of things that influence the vine, including the type of soil it's growing in, the slope and elevation of the vineyard, as well as the climate and weather. Though it's hard to make broad generalizations, you might find that French wines tend to focus less on fruit flavors than wines from newer growing regions in the New World. French wines might be described as earthy or mineral—which means they taste a little like dirt, chalk, or mushrooms. Today we'll cover a few of the major regions that you should know. Burgundy [ Photo: Craig Drollett on Flickr ] When someone says "red Burgundy," they're talking about Pinot Noir. And when they say "white Burgundy", they mean Chardonnay.

But as with most French wines, you won't see those grapes on the label, so it's worth getting to know a bit about the famous wine-growing regions of Burgundy: there's Chablis in the north, the Cote d'Or between Dijon and Lyon, Cote Chalonnaise, the Mâcon, and Beaujolais. Most wines from Burgundy are split into four major tiers of quality. Regional wines (which are just labeled, say, Bourgogne Rouge, Bourgogne Blanc, or Cremant de Bourgogne) are at the base, made from grapes sourced anywhere in Burgundy. As the prestige goes up, you're getting grapes from a more and more specific area. Next up from regional wines are those specific to one village, then wines sourced from premier cru vineyards, and finally, the top classification is for wines from the most prestigious sites, called the grand cru vineyards. The appellations in Burgundy are attached the piece of land, regardless of who is making the wine. Some pieces of land may have dozens of producers, with each winery owning a few rows of grape vines. How did Burgundy end up with this system? Well, it's all about the history.

Monks have been farming this land for centuries, and noted which spots seemed best for growing grapes. The vineyards were split among multiple owners as generations went by because the Napoleonic code stipulated that a family's vineyards were split among their children, not inherited all together. Chablis, the northernmost part of Burgundy, is famous for white wines made from chardonnay. If the label says Appellation Chablis Contrôlée, the wine will generally be fresh with a chalky, oyster shell-like minerality—many of these wines are not aged in oak barrels. The Cote d'Or is made up of two main regions, Cote de Nuits in northern area, and Cote de Beaune in the south. Cote de Nuits is more known for its Pinot Noir and the Cote de Beaune is famed for its Chardonnay. Moving south, you will find two regions that serve as excellent (and often more affordable) introductions to the wines of Burgundy: the Cote Chalonnaise and the Mâcon. You'll find great deals in Pinot Noir from Givry or Mercurey.

For Chardonnay, look for Pouilly-Fuissé, St-Véran, or Rully. Red wine in Burgundy is mostly about Pinot Noir, but there is one exception: Beaujolais. In this area, delicious red wines are made from the gamay grape. There's much more to these wines than the quickly-produced Beaujolais Nouveau meant for harvest celebrations; those cheap wines really don't represent the quality of the region on the whole. Wines from the ten 'crus' of Beaujolais are beloved among wine nerds and often a great bargain. There are ten crus, but some of the ones you'll see the most are Morgon, Fleurie, or Moulin-A-Vent. Bordeaux The town of St. Emilion. [Photo: Robyn Lee] Wines from Bordeaux are almost always a blend of different grapes. If you're buying red wine, it might include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Malbec, Cabernet Franc, and/or Petit Verdot. What's the dominant grape in the blend? It depends on where the bottle is from... The region of Bordeaux is often divided into the Left Bank and the Right Bank.

The area is split by the Gironde river, which has two smaller rivers, the Garonne and the Dordogne, feeding into it (picture an upside-down 'Y' shape.) The Left Bank, on the west side, includes the Medoc and Haut Medoc (north of the city of Bordeaux) and Graves (south of the city). The famous villages of St. Estephe, Pauillac, St. Julien, and Margaux are all in the Haut Medoc. The Graves region to the south of the city includes Pessac-Leognan, home of the renowned Chateau Haut-Brion. The blends for wines from the Left Bank are generally dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, while blends from the Right Bank—the east side, which includes St. Emilion and Pomerol—are more focused on Merlot. Between the two branches of the river-'Y' shape is a region called Entre Deux Mers, known for its white wines made from Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle. You might have heard the terms 'first growth' or 'second growth' in relation to fancy wines from Bordeaux.

These classifications come from a ranking system from way back in 1855, when the wine estates of the region were ranked in order of quality from 'first growth' to 'fifth growth'. 160 years later, some of the top wines are still truly mind-blowing....and expensive. Unlike in Burgundy, the classification in Bordeaux is based on the producer, not the specific piece of land where the grapes are grown. Loire Melon de Bourgogne grapes in the Loire [ Photo: Cyril5555 on Wikimedia Commons ] The wine regions near the Loire River can be thought of in four sections: The Pays Nantais, Anjou-Saumur, Touraine, and the Central Vineyards. Let's start at the ocean, shall we? The Pays Nantais (named for Nantes, the largest city in the area) is the closest to the Atlantic and famous for Muscadet, an oyster-loving white wine made from the Melon de Bourgogne grape. You're likely to see 'Sur Lie' on a good bottle of Muscadet—it means that the wine was left with the dead yeast cells, or lees, after fermentation.

This adds a creamy, textural richness to the fresh, salty tang of the wine. (One thing to keep straight: Muscadet is definitely different from Muscat, an aromatic grape that is often made as an off-dry wine.) Traveling east from the Pays Nantais, we come to the Anjou-Saumur and the Touraine. The white grape Chenin Blanc and the red Cabernet Franc are the most common here. We love the dry Chenin Blancs from Savennières, as well as both the dry and sweeter examples of the grape made in Vouvray. If you're looking for Cabernet Franc, seek out red wines from Chinon and Bourgueil. While also found in the Bordeaux blend, on its own, Cabernet Franc expresses itself with black cherry, herby green vegetables, and plenty of potting soil. You'll also find peppery, tangy, and bright Pineau d'Aunis in Anjou and Touraine. The Central Vineyards are known mainly for their Sauvignon Blanc. The appellation of Sancerre is the most well-known and often the most expensive. Its neighbors can provide a great entry point with the same tart, sometimes grassy expression.

Look for wines from the adjacent appellations of Menetou-Salon and Pouilly-Fumè, or the nearby Reuilly and Quincy. Champagne Cristal Champagne in racks (called pupitres) used for riddling. [Photo: Sarah Bray] You might have heard before that you're not supposed to call every sparkling wine Champagne. It's only Champagne if it's from the region of Champagne. (And they actually make some still, non-bubbly wines there, too, though those aren't called Champagne, either.) What makes Champagne special, beyond the region where the grapes are grown? The methode champenoise, also known as the traditional method. The basic idea of this labor-intensive process is as follows. Somewhat underripe grapes are first fermented to make a normal still wine with pretty low alcohol. This wine is bottled and then undergoes a second fermentation in the very same bottle that comes home with you from the store. A little yeast and sugar is added to each bottle of wine to get a second fermentation started. The bottle is usually closed with a crown cap (like a beer cap).

The yeast converts the added sugar into alcohol, and since the bottle is capped, the carbon dioxide that is naturally produced is captured and remains in the wine as bubbles. After this secondary fermentation, Champagne bottles have to go through a laborious process called riddling. Over the course of several weeks, the bottles are slowly, gradually turned and lowered until they are turned upside down. The goal is to get all of the dead yeast into the neck of the bottle so that it can be removed. Seeing a pattern with this leftover yeast? Lees add a lot to the resulting wine and Champagnes have to age with the yeast for at least a year before taking the next step. When they're ready to go, the necks of the bottles are frozen and, in a moment of organized chaos called disgorgement, the crown cap on the bottle is popped off and the pressure that has built up in the wine pushes out the frozen yeast deposit. The bottle is topped off with some wine and sometimes sugar (the dosage) before being corked and sealed with a wire cage.

Since the grapes often struggle to ripen fully every year in the cool, northern environment, wines from Champagne are often non-vintage (NV), which means the bottle holds a blend of wines from different years. Champagne can also be from a single vintage, which is generally a very good year. All this hard work means that Champagne is definitely pricey—often starting around $40. You can also look for wines made from the traditional method in other areas of France, often for around $20. One easy kind to spot is anything labeled 'Cremant.' These wines will come from other areas around France, such as Burgundy, Alsace, or the Loire. You will see 'Premier Cru' and 'Grand Cru' on bottles of Champagne—this label applies to the entire village from which the grape comes, rather than specific vineyards. Alsace The Hugel & Fils tasting room in Alsace. [Photo: Sarah Bray] You'll find Alsace right on the German border of France. Over the last few hundred years, France and Germany have alternated possession of the area and a unique blend of each country's wine heritage remains.

Unlike in most French regions, wines from Alsace most frequently do have the grape of the label. The most exalted grapes in the region, called noble grapes, are Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, and Muscat. In Alsace, these wines are unusually intense and mineral, not the fresh-and-fruity wines you might expect from these grapes. If you see 'Gentil' on a label of an Alsatian wine, it means the bottle holds a blend of the noble grapes (as well as up to 50% wine from other grapes). These blends can be a particularly good value. Alsatian examples of Pinot Blanc and Sylvaner are also delicious and are generally much cheaper than wines made from the noble grapes. While most grapes grown in Alsace are white, Pinot Noir does make an appearance on its own as a red wine and in bubbly Cremant d'Alsace. Rhône The Hermitage hill, above the Rhône River. [ Photo: David Monniaux on Wikimedia Commons ] You might have heard of Châteauneuf-du-Pape or Hermitage: those appellations are in the Rhône.

The Rhône River starts up in the Alps and flows down through Valence and Avignon, ending in the Mediterranean Sea in the area near Marseille. The area is generally split into two main parts: the Northern Rhône and the Southern Rhône. When you think Northern Rhône, think Syrah. The grape finds its most peppery, meaty expression on the steep hillsides that line the river. A good way to get into these wines is to try St. Joseph or Crozes-Hermitage, but even these can be a bit pricey. Some talented producers make wines under the humble Vin de Pays Collines Rhodaniennes, and these can be delicious and extremely affordable. You'll also see white wines made from Viognier grapes in this area. The sunny Southern Rhone is all about the blend, with Grenache leading the charge. They're usually "GSM," shorthand for Grenache, Syrah, and Mourvèdre. Other grapes, such as Cinsault and Counoise, also make an appearance and in fact, thirteen different grapes are allowed in the blend for Châteauneuf-du-Pape.

The white wines are often blends of Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, and Viognier, though a few other grapes are also allowed. The Rhône wines you will most often see in a wine shop or on a wine list will say Côtes-du-Rhône on the label. These, too, are likely to be GSM blends, sometimes including Cinsault, Carignane, and Counoise. If you want to take one step up from the basic Côtes-du-Rhône wines, look for one of the 18 villages that are allowed to add their name to the label. (You'll often see Visan, Sablet, and Cairanne.) Gigondas, Vacqueyras, Beaumes-de-Venise, and Vinsobres often offer a bit more quality; they used to be under the Cotes-du-Rhone name, but have been elevated and now stand on their own as appellations. Languedoc and Roussillon Sampling wine in the Languedoc. [Photo: J. Kenji Lopez-Alt] Languedoc and Roussillon are two large regions that lie on the coast of the Mediterranean.

Red and rosé wines from these areas are generally a blend of Carignan, Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre, with other indigenous and international varieties making an appearance. White wines are less common, but when you see them they are also usually blends that include Grenache Blanc, Marsanne, Roussanne, Muscat, and sometimes other grapes. If you love the warm climate wines of California or Australia, these regions are a wonderful way to introduce yourself to France. The sunshine gives plenty of fruit flavor and body to the red wines from the AOCs of Côtes du Roussillon, St. Chinian, Minervois, and Languedoc (Languedoc is the general name for the region and a specific AOC, you still with me?). Rousillon is also known for its fortified sweet wine, made in spots like Rivesaltes, Maury, and Banyuls from a Grenache blend. You might see 'Vin De Pays d'Oc' on a wine label from this region—it's a country wine classification that is one step up from table wine but without as many restrictions as Appellation Contrôlée wines. Good value alert!

Provence [Photo: Rebeccah Marsters] When we think of Provence, we first think of rosé. They make a lot of it here, usually a blend of Grenache, Syrah, Cinsault, and Mourvèdre that pairs perfectly with sunshine and beach umbrellas. But there's more to Provence than just these lovely, dry pink wines: if you're looking for reds, look to Bandol. This region sits along the coast and produces mostly red wines from a blend dominated by Mourvèdre. Producers in Bandol also tend to make exceptional rosé wines from younger vines that aren't quite ready to be used in red wine. There's More! There are more grapes and regions in France than you probably have time to read about on your lunch break, but we hope we've given you a few handy basics. Got questions about the wines of France or any of the regions we've mentioned? Please share them in the comments below!

Question: From which country do we get Graves wine
Answer: France